Servants of Kindness

 

Can you remember the fad of having a “fitness tracker”? It looked like a watch, yet sleeker. I believe most of them did keep time, but their main purpose was to keep track of the steps one took each day and some even monitored one’s sleep patterns. When worn regularly, the “fitness tracker” was intended to be an encouragement to help one toward a more proper way of physical fitness and better health. Now the same thing is on my phone.

I once contemplated the idea of a “kindness tracker”. Not that a mechanical one could be made, but the very thought that I could somehow, each day, keep track of acts of kindness that I do would be great. It would not be for me to share with anyone, or compare myself with anyone, or to compete with anyone. No, it would be just to keep myself motivated to do cordial things for others. I could keep a running total in my mind throughout the day and then think back over the list at the end of the day. This would supply a certain amount of satisfaction at the end of a trying day, or maybe, if the total were quite low, it could supply motivation for the next day.

There’s an old story that used to make the rounds of church bulletin articles and sermons. It told of a man who wanted his son to have something to do that would make him feel good about himself. The son was lazing around one snowy afternoon, and the father told his son to get off the couch and go to the neighbor’s house and shovel the snow off their sidewalk and driveway before they got home from work …and without the neighbor knowing who did it. Ah, there’s the rub! There is an element of self-esteem and satisfaction that should not be fed by someone else acknowledging or rewarding an act of kindness. We should do it just because it is the kind thing to do. We can enrich our lives and the lives of others by being more aware of our acts of kindness, as well as those done by others.

[Galatians 6:10] “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” A story is told of a high government official coming into President Lincoln’s office and was startled to find the chief executive shining his shoes! “Sir!” the man cried out in astonishment, “Surely you don’t polish your own shoes!” “Of course,” replied the humble President. “Whose do you polish?” The greatness of a man is demonstrated by his humility. Truly, no life has exhibited humility as supremely as the life of Jesus. As deity in the flesh, Jesus “made himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant…” (Philippians 2:7). The meaning here is that Jesus laid aside His rank and dignity and became in respect to that as nothing; He assumed a humbler rank and station. Did not Jesus himself affirm, “…just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).

Our God has given us a name above all other names, that worthy name “Christian” (Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16; James 2:7). Did you know that the name Christian is found only three times in the Bible? But the word ‘servant’ is used to refer to God’s people some thirty-two times in the New Testament. Certainly, we cannot give our life as a ransom for others as did our Savior, but we can certainly ‘die to self’ that we may be servants of others. Even in prophecy, Jesus was called “My servant…”, but in that same prophecy, God called him “My Elect One, in whom My soul delights!” (Isaiah 42:1-4; Matthew 12:18-21). God is not well pleased with us when we seek to stand above our fellow believers, but only when we are willing to humble ourselves in service to them. In the eyes of God, the greatest among man is first the servant of men. “He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all” (Mark 9:33-35).

A Better Home Awaits

 

Take a look around where you’re sitting and find five things that have blue in them. (Go ahead and do it). With a “blue” mind­set, you’ll find that blue jumps out at you: a blue book on the table, a blue pillow on the couch, blue in the painting on the wall, and so on. In like fashion, you’ve proba­bly noticed that after you buy a new car, you promptly see that make and model of car every­where. That’s because people find what they are looking for.

Financial experts tell us our homes are our largest asset. An average house in 1973 was 1,660 sq. ft., while in 2015 the average house was 2,687 sq. ft. In 2025, the average U.S. home size is approximately 2,200 square feet. Median new home sales prices were around $392,300 to $422,800, while average, often larger or custom homes, ranged from $487,500 to $498,000, reflecting high demand and a, trend of shrinking new home sizes.

 Numerically, fami­lies continue to decrease in size compared to previous decades. Our homes are especially important more due to values, not needs. We are blessed to work, plan, and prosper while choosing a home that fits our goals. We may even be thinking of remodeling or relocating. How often do we ponder our eter­nal home? Heaven deserves all the atten­tion we give our earthly homes, and more!

Heaven is a literal place. Hebrews 11:16 says, “But now they desire a bet­ter, that is, a heavenly country, Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.” Our hope of Heaven exceeds any dwelling we may come in contact with here. Do you desire a better place?

Heaven provides rest for the weary. Hebrews 4:9 says, “There remains there­fore a rest for the people of God.” We all have worked long hours to the point of being too tired to sleep. We understand fatigue, pain, and suffering. None of this exists in Heaven. Do you want to find rest from your labor?

Heaven will last forever. First Thessa­lonians 4:17 says, “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” We leave the comfort of our homes frequently, but we will forever be with the Lord if we do His will. Do you desire a place of permanent security?

At times in our lives, God seems strangely absent, but the prob­lem is not that God has disappeared. We simply lack a “God” mindset. When we develop our sensitivity, we soon begin to see His work everywhere! George Washington Carver said, "I love to think of nature as unlimited broadcasting stations, through which God speaks to us every day, every hour and every moment of our lives, if we will only tune in and remain so.”

There is an element of truth to what Carver said. The Bible says, "For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made..." (Romans 1:19-20 ESV).

Nature–God’s creation–is one way God speaks to us. Yet the topic about which God speaks to us through his creation is singular: his existence. When one observes the beauty and complexities of this universe, it is clear that there is a Creator.

Yet nature will not tell us anything about our Creator's will for us. For that, we need the Scriptures, the holy Bible (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

 [John 14:1-6] A home is being prepared for those who want to live with God. Heaven is a better home, provides rest, and will last forever. Are you preparing for your next home?

Valleys and Peaks

 

You may remember the TV show, “Hee Haw” and on one of the shows, Doc Campbell is confronted by a patient who says he broke his arm in two places. Doc replies, “Well then, stay out of them places!” Sometimes, that is precisely the right approach to overcoming temptation. Other times, however, temptation seems to come looking for you.

Jesus, for example, was on a spiritual retreat! He had just been baptized by John in the Jordan River. The Holy Spirit then directed him into the wilderness where he would spend 40 days in prayer and fasting. You would think that a person on such a spiritual retreat would be impervious to temptation. Yet, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was tempted at three different times and in three different ways!

We should not be surprised, then, if temptation locates us and knocks at the door. We might even answer, but we should not let temptation in. We should remember who we are - children of God. We have a family name to honor and respect. We wouldn’t want God’s name sullied or disrespected. We should remember God’s word to us. This is found in the Bible. Reading the Bible every day helps us to remember God’s will for us. We should remember that we don’t really need what temptation offers us. Whatever it is, we have something better. Moreover, if we yield to the temptation, we are going to feel bad afterwards. Finally, we should remember that God will not allow us to be tempted above and beyond our ability to resist it. The stronger the temptation, the more powerful is God’s trust and belief in us. We can resist and overcome! – Timothy Merrill

[Psalm 23:4] “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” At the heart of Psalm 23 is this phrase with which we can all identify, either literally or spiritually. Many people have drawn and still draw comfort from this simple and plain message.

Some have driven through valleys; some have walked through valleys; and some have lived in valleys. Most of us have gone through times in life that could be described as valleys when the days seem dark, our friends seem few, and temptations seem to increase as we seek ways to comfort ourselves. As we think of the characteristics of a literal valley, let’s see them in light of the feelings and emotions we experience in the “down” times.

* In a valley, it can be very cold. Because of the blocking out of the sun’s rays by mountains and trees, valleys can be very cold places to be. Emotionally, in our time of discouragement, we may be cut off from the warmth of friendship and companionship. In such a time, the presence of God needs to be remembered (Hebrews 13:5). * In a valley, it is very difficult to stay focused on the big picture. As one enters a valley, our vision of the distance and far-off places is obscured. The dominant view is that of the valley. If we are not careful, we will think that all that is important and all that is going on in our life is that which troubles us. It is in such a time that we remember that there is a longer, upward way that goes through valleys, but leads to the father. * In a valley, fog is common. Temperature and moisture conditions can change quickly, and fog can roll in within minutes. The road and objects surrounding it can be obscured, leaving a traveler fearful and confused. Confusion is a byproduct of discouragement and fear. It is in such a time that the light of the Word of God must be used and trusted (Psalm 119:105).

Life is made up of peaks and valleys. A peak awaits us on the other side of a valley. It is the depth of a valley, and our reaction to it, that often make us appreciate the height of the peak. Don’t get stuck in a valley. Hold to God’s hand, and He will lift you up (James 4:10).

Love All Around

 

One morning Emma woke up with a start. Her husband Jim asked he what the matter was, she told him, “I just had a dream that you gave me a pearl necklace for Valentine’s Day. What do you think it means?” Jim replied, “You’ll know tonight.” That evening Jim came home from work with a small package and gave it to his wife. Delighted, Emma opened it, only to find a book entitled, “The Meaning of Dreams”.

Before me is a tattered book with torn edges and a torn cover. It’s not an old book but a well-worn one. It has been dropped numerous times, stepped on – once or twice, cried on and sweated over. Some of the pages have been repaired with invisible tape after being torn by accident.

It’s obvious the words of the book have been labored over. Some of them are underlined, some are highlighted in yellow, while others are contained in brackets of various configurations. To the side of some of the words are scribbled stars, question marks and, by some, exclamation points. Yet in spite of its dilapidated appearance, the book remains precious. I unashamedly carry it and would open it in the presence of the vilest as well as the nobility. It is the focal point of my library and, as far as I’m concerned, it should be that of every other library on earth. It contains not only the answers to every question man has ever asked but also answers to some he hasn’t thought to ask.

This book is my companion during my journeys of everyday life and along paths I must walk alone. It’s my staff which sometimes supports a tired spirit and a battered faith. It’s my counselor and source of counseling to others because it is the final rule by which all is measured to be true or false, wise or foolish.

You see, this book is close to my heart because it is the only thing on this earth that can tell me of a Savior’s love. It’s God’s one and only communication to modern man. It’s the living and life-giving Word of God – My Bible.

Valentine’s Day is coming up on Saturday. Millions of people will be expressing their love for someone. They will send gift cards, boxes of chocolates, red roses, balloons and much more. Perhaps the couple will go out for a romantic, candlelight dinner. School children might make Valentine’s cards in their classrooms using construction paper and paste. Have you ever heard these professions of love? • I love you more than a dog loves his bone. • I love you more than the Cookie Monster loves cookies. • I love you more than a turkey hates Thanksgiving. • I love you more than a flower loves its bloom. • I love you more than Romeo loves Juliet. • I love you more than a rhino loves his horn. • I love you more than Baskin loves Robbins. • I love you more than waffles love ice cream. • I love you more than you will ever know. • I love you more than I love myself. • I love you more than words can say. • I love you more than a cat loves catnip.

God loves us, as you well know. But God did not send a box of chocolates. God did not give us gift cards or balloons. God did not give us red roses, but thorns, and the color red was involved. The Bible says (and I am paraphrasing) that the “proof of God’s amazing love is that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). The cross of Christ is an amazing profession of love. In fact, Jesus said that “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). Jesus gave his life for us.

When you see a cross, remember that - much more than a red rose, candy cane or box of chocolates - it is the supreme symbol of love.

Making Choices

 

The story is told about a man who had his wife take the wheel of their motor home while he went to the back for a nap. He awoke to see his wife getting something out of the refrigerator while the motor home was still moving. “Who’s driving!?” he exclaimed. “Oh, don’t worry. I put it on autopilot,” she replied just as they crashed. What’s worse is when we put our life in cruise control and step away from the driver’s seat. We’re accountable for every action and word. We cannot blame others or circumstances for our choices.

One of the greatest abilities God has given humanity is the power of choice. Every day a person makes hundreds of choices, both small and large. There are small choices like what clothes we will wear to work, to bigger choices like where we are going to actually work. Let’s face it – a look at a person’s life reveals a summary of the choices that they have made. Plain and simple, you and I are the product of choices we have been making our entire life, both good and bad. I’ve never run into a person who has never made a bad decision in their life. Everyone has some particular choice that they regret, either from something they said or something they wished they hadn’t done. So, it almost goes without saying that every person on the planet could use a great deal of help when it comes to the decision-making process.

Usually when a person has a big decision to make, they will meditate on it, roll it over and over in their mind, weighing the positive and negative consequences of the potential outcome. A wise person will usually talk it over with various friends and family members to get a good sense of feedback to help him make the right call. To make better choices, those things are absolutely necessary and should not be overlooked.

[James 1:5-8] The main step in the process of good decision making is usually overlooked by the majority of the populace. That step is asking god for help, and for the wisdom to make the best possible choice. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord. He is a double-minded man, unstable in all of his ways.”

The message is easy to comprehend; if you want wisdom to make better choices in life, confidently ask God for that wisdom. Admit that you have a need; admit to God that you need help and then talk to our Almighty Heavenly Father about what you need. The Word of God says that He will give that wisdom to those who ask for it, but we first have to ask! The road to better decision making is paved in prayer to God who wants us to choose and serve and live for Him. Now that’s a good decision!

(Deuteronomy 30:19-20) “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice…” How often do I wish that I could turn back the clock, not to live longer but to make better choices. Things I struggle with today are a result of poor choices I made yesterday. But I did choose to obey the gospel. All my sins were erased, but the choices were not finished. How I have wished that when I came up out of the water of baptism, my second birth, God had made me a robot incapable of making poor choices. But God has set life and death, blessings and curses before me, before you, and He allows us to make our choices every day, every hour, every minute; to follow Him or go our own way. Choose.